Chapter 6

This is one of the times that I wish that Evelyn would show up and explain what the hell's going on! How was one supposed to act around such a pretty girl and why was I feeling this way? I must be doing something right as the dates with Ava continued. I even got a kiss good night on our last date. Now I know I'm falling for the gorgeous strawberry blonde.

Ava and I were at a disco in Diagon alley, once through the entrance, I found himself surrounded by music but few patrons, "Ava, does it strike you odd that this place is almost empty?

"James, I think it has a lot to do with Harry Potter's statements at his trial at the ministry and then being murdered by his Muggle relatives. Don't you read the Daily Profit?"

"What!"

"It was all over the Daily Profit, I mean almost the entire paper that day was over what happened. The front page held the biggest bold print, "The Death of Harry Potter". People haven't been doing much partying since that paper came out. I mean with his prediction of you-know-who returning the people believe what the Daily Profit was right in saying that he is the only one that could defeat you-know-who, especially with all the prophecies.. People are expecting you-know-who to pop up just about anywhere and anytime even though no one knows what the prophecies really say."

Ava continued about what she had read in the Daily Profit as I sat there with my mouth hanging open and began to assemble what I think happened based on what Ava said was in the Daily Profit. Evelyn had told me not to worry about training or watching the TV cloud the two days before I was back in Privet Drive. What I think I had missed in those two days was Vernon beating the clone Harry to death. Apparently the next door neighbor has seen enough through an open window to call the police. My blood was found in the broom cupboard under the stairs and in the deadly second bedroom. This of course was secondary to the mangled corpses in the littlest bedroom. I think the Muggle police had wrapped up the investigation and hauled the Dursleys away just in time for me to arrive back at Privet Drive. I was then picked up by Madeye and the Order. Leave it to the magical community as a whole not to notice the freaks death in the Muggle newspapers, not that it was probably headline news to begin with.

With it being summertime some Muggleborn might have read the local papers. Most Muggleborn didn't have personal owls and most magical's didn't have telephones or receive Muggle post or newspapers. Of course assuming that Vernon was stupid enough to admit anything, the papers may have just reported that the cousin of the Dursley's was the one murdered. Assuming some Muggleborn, who had read the local Muggle paper, had finally gotten to someone and had said something… I was probably finished with my trial by that time. With Harry Potter appearing in front of the Wizengamot to be tried, well that did make the front page of the Daily Profit. The powers that be must've thought that when I disappearedfrom theWizengamot trial I went straight back to Privet Drive and got killed a couple of days later or some other delusional assumptions. Then again nobody said the magical world was wrapped too tight. One thing that I did need to ask was, "Did the clone have real blood and cell structure", it was a magical construct after all. The Muggle's assuredly would run an autopsy, or did they have time?

"James are you okay?"

"Yes and no, this news was a bit of a shock. It's the first I've heard about any of this. Come on Ava there playing our kind of song, let's dance."

/Scene Break/

That night in my VIP quarters under the goblin bank in Hogsmeade I was thinking as I was sitting on the couch gazing into the roaring fire. If I hadn't met Ava I would currently be considering in a magical school in the colonies even if it was temporary. That's when Evelyn showed up.

"Having fun Harry?"

"Oh, hi Evelyn. No, I was just contemplating what you can call one of my rough spots of life."

"Nice plush pad you have you have here Harry."

"You know the goblins. They were happy to let me have this place as long as I have the galleons to pay for it. So what fabulous news are you bringing?"

"You are just going to love your rough spots coming up in the next couple of months. Harry love, you're going to Hogwarts on September 1st. Dumbledore has smoothed over your ministerial problems as I'm sure you were expecting."

"Any particular reason why I am going back, you do know I've been dead?"

"Several actually. The big reason is that someone has been tampering with the timeline by use of time travel. We suspect it was Dumbledore's medaling. Our Seers can't break through his cloaking to determine what he's doing there in the colonies. Apparently he has been doing this for years. That is why I'm here to give you some help, information and warnings. You do remember the results of you running away that I told you on our dinner date in Italy? Knowing you Harry we must tell you that Ava cannot be enrolled in Hogwarts. Your relationship would put her in mortal danger. Also you now own a house near to Ava's parents. Both houses have been warded by the goblins. You're suddenly coming back to life and attending Hogwarts will stop Voldemort from coming out of hiding and attacking and killing everyone for the time being. You have been trained and are capable but just remember you can not save everyone."

I was about ready to respond, complain, and ask all my questions but Evelyn just disappeared. Then again I should know better than to argue with Evelyn or help me to get an answer to any one of my questions. I've been trained and can transport every night from Hogwarts to my house and can see Ava. Right now that was all that mattered. That is after I contacted the goblins to find out the house address. Another useless question I could have asked of Evelyn, of that I was sure.

/Scene Break/

I know it was Evelyn's doing but I was classified as a friend of the goblins. It is one of the reasons I resided in the VIP suite and the wards that they put on our houses were the best that could be found. So they got my respect and what I liberally paid them in the gold that they so cherished. It was now my turn to pay my respects to Ava. The next evening I showed Ava my new house and sat her down on the couch.

"Ava my dear I have a confession to make and some explaining. Please don't kill me."

"Oh dear! Your going to explain how you can afford to live under the goblins bank when you don't have a job…and why you are not going to school…and how you can take me out to all these fancy places…and now buy this house?"

"Well yes. But there's a bit more than that. Anyhow, here it comes; my correct and proper name is Harry James Potter a.k.a. the Boy-Who-Lived."

"You're not kidding are you?"

I removed the glamour over my forehead scar and I/we spent the rest of the evening discussing everything. I was expecting disbelief as a bare minimum. With all of the pictures of Harry Potter in the papers looking like a sawed-off runt and to find someone claiming to be Harry Potter that looked totally different, well I was expecting problems. I was ecstatic that she didn't run or beat the crap out of me for deceiving her. I was totally happy that she didn't think I was a loony tune as I explained about Evelyn, my training, and clone Harry. The most worrisome part was making it clear that she could get hurt as I was a lightning rod for danger and mayhem. Even I could not comprehend how much of a target was going to be in my future.

/Scene Break/

The rest of the year sped onward with me studying and dating Ava. Now for a dead person I was somewhat surprised to receive my Harry Potter clones end of year scores in my post office box drop box that Evelyn had apparently set up the previous school year for clone Harry. However, when I open the letter my anger returned. So far I hadn't heard from Dumbledore or Hogwarts and I still hoped my plans would work and Dumbledore had completely straighten out my ministerial problems. I knew Dumbledore's little silver trinkets would let him know that I was still alive. There were laws in every country that everyone had to complete the equivalent of OWL testing. I had made up my mind, I was going to return to Hogwarts as Evelyn had suggested.

About then I opened clone Harry Potter's end of year test results:

Astronomy - P

Care - O

Charms - P

Defense - P

Divination - A

Herbology - E

History – E

Potions - P

Transfiguration - P

My first impulse was to head to Hogwarts and destroy it and Dumbledore. What was this? Was this an attempt to manipulate me? My clone had been assisting students in defense and even if all the other scores were correct his defense score was a glaring accusation of manipulation. Someone was trying to manipulate Harry Potter, like that was new news. As to who and why? It was not clear but then again I remembered that I was dead when this was sent, more confusion to add to the cauldron. Using an owl from the post office in Hogsmeade I sent my acceptance letter with my selected classes for the following term. Somebody was not going to be very happy with me in Hogwarts but I was thrilled with the turmoil that I would be making shortly. So it was now on to the rest of my pranking. I had a stop at the Daily Profit, serious business to conduct at the Ministry of Magic Educational Department and of course obtaining a new Hogwarts wand at Olivanders.

I must say that my owl did cause an eruption across the magical community. Rita must have been around in her beetle form because my acceptance letter to Hogwarts was spread across the Daily Profits front page..

/Scene Break/

September 1st finally arrived, like I was looking forward to it… Not!

I transported directly onto the Hogwarts express as it sat on platform 9 ¾. I could see out the window that people were expecting the great Harry Potter arrival at any moment. I'm sure the Aurors were there to intercept me while the Order was there to confine me for Dumbledore, everyone else was there to mob the hell out of me. Paranoid is becoming my middle name. As the Hogwarts express left the platform full of disappointed people it now became time for the student effrontery upon my person.

My clone's friendship with the people I had seen on the TV s cloud started me to notice that Ron and Hermione always tried to stick to me like glue. While they did not know I was not my clone this was going to cause me, the real Harry Potter, nothing but problems. A few days at the Burrow was one thing but full school year? So now I sat with my Harry Potter clone glamours once again in place awaiting the onslaught.

First came Ron and Hermione with questions out the wazo…

"Harry where have you been? You were in so much trouble with the Ministry until Dumbledore straightened it all out." She sped on to inform me on how the Ministry had forgiven all of my crimes and offenses because of the "Great Dumbledore". Hermione was just warming up with her questions, tirade and just how great Dumbledore was and how I should be thankful.

I could see my first trip to Hogwarts would be nothing but continuous propaganda and questions...

"You know everybody thought you were dead?"

"Why have we not seen you?"

"Why haven't you been writing us?"

"What did you do while you were missing?"

"Harry where have you been, we missed you, don't you care?"

"How are you getting a suntan in this English weather?"

"Harry, don't lie to us!" I almost broke into open laughter as I had not had a chance to reply to any of the onslaught of questions.

Without the arrival of Evelyn I knew that I probably would have ended up settling for the bookworm herself in my clone's life, or worse Ginny Weasley, a girl who I now knew looked a dead ringer for my mother, Lily Potter. Nope, not happening no way no–when! That was in the original timeline but not now, things were still happening but not in the order they had occurred before. I'm also not going to mention a couple of love potion attempts by other females at Hogwarts on clone Potter, or Dumbledore arranging a marriage contract for clone Harry for the greater good. Yep, it's a quiet and safe school they called Hogwarts.

.

"So mate how are you? You didn't even send us an owl! Are you ready for another year of Quidditch? How about a game of chess?"

I did find it interesting that I received no questions over my death. Apparently they had received a thorough briefing from somebody.

Then came Ginny and Neville but with more subdued questions but finally my favorite person open the door. While I never met him in person the TV cloud was more than enough exposure to the jerk.

"Hey Scarhead…" With a wave of my hand Draco and his two goons were now naked and clearly showing they did not have the dark mark burnt into their left arms. They ran but a lot of the students in the train car had seen the strange marks burnt onto each of their right buttocks, a skull with a serpent in its mouth. Yet another fashion trend in Death Eater markings.

Seeing things with my own eyes and actually being here was quite unique experience so I left the compartment and started to wander the train. That left Hermione grinding her teeth and Ron asking Neville to play a game of chess. While most students just stared as I passed by their compartments there were a few people from different classes that wanted to chat. I stopped and chatted with. Susan Bones as she almost dragged me into her compartment but it was a most interesting conversation.

"Harry I don't know if I should thank you or hex you."

I gave her my crooked smile and asked, "What could I have possibly done to receive one of your powerful hexes?"

"You know my aunt Amelia is the head of the DMLE. Well she has been fuming because Dumbledore will not let her meet you when you arrive at Hogwarts. She is in a right snit she is and that is very uncomfortable being around."

"I'm sure by now you know my life is far from uninteresting but I do apologize for any uncomfort that I may have caused you Susan. But on a happier note what did I do for you to thank me?"

"Aunt Amelia will arrive at Hogwarts to talk with you, and believe me she will regardless what Dumbledore wants. After she's finished I'm sure I can talk her into taking me out for the evening. Aunt Amelia's a busy woman so time for just the two of us is always nice."

"Susan I'm glad you're going to have quality time with your aunt."

"Harry I don't want to get you mad but do you mind me asking a personal question?"

"No, go for it Susan."

"Do you know why Ron and Hermione keeps everybody away from you?"

"I just figured that out recently. It seems that Dumbledore is paying them in one manner or form to do just that. Oh and there is no need to keep that a secret from anyone including your aunt.

A/N: I hope you are noticing the little clues that are being dropped all over this insanity?